Fresno State vs. Boise State

Bulldogs

Quarterbacks

Paul Pinegar turned in his second straight efficient performance last week against San Jose State, but the sophomore had just 197 yards to show for it. Fresno State hasn’t seen big numbers from the quarterback position all season, but it hasn’t seemed to matter when the running game is clicking.

Running Backs

The Bulldogs had 311 yards on the ground last week. That type of production is what keeps the Bulldogs defense off the field and rested. Sophomore Dwayne Wright had 15 carries for 106 yards to bring his season total to 838 yards. Senior Rodney Davis has recovered from a slow start, rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown in the past two games. Sophomore Bryson Sumlin leads the team with eight touchdowns.

Receivers

With Bernard Berrian coming off his most effective game of the season, Boise State better treat him like the All-American he was in 2001. Berrian had six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown last week. Friday’s game would be a perfect time for him to get his first 100-yard game of the season. Redshirt freshman Paul Williams had his first two career catches against San Jose State.

Offensive Line

The young line is coming together at the ideal time for the Bulldogs. Injuries have harassed this unit, which lost star Logan Mankins and Matt Stevenson for the season. Sophomore Dartangon Shack left the San Jose State game early, but coach Pat Hill said Shack is ready to go this week.

Defensive Line

The four starters combine for 18 sacks on the season, led by Brian Morris’ eight and Claude Sanders’ five. Donyell Booker leads the group with 35 tackles, including eight for losses. This unit played a major role in helping the Bulldogs slow San Jose State’s Scott Rislov last week and has a similar task tonight against Boise State’s Ryan Dinwiddie.

Linebackers

Bryce McGill is second on the team with 63 tackles. Redshirt freshman Dwayne Andrews is sixth with 37 tackles. Seniors McGill and Marc Dailey are the natural leaders of this unit and were both around the last two times these teams met—both Boise State wins.

Defensive Backs

Safety James Sanders is coming off his best game of the season—a 12-tackle, two-sack performance. The Bulldogs will miss cornerback Raymond Washington, who’s out for the season with a hand injury, but young corners Marcus McCauley and Richard Marshall have played well.

Special Teams

Kicker Brett Visintainer is 16 for 21 on field goal attempts, 7 of 9 from more than 40 yards away. This game could come down to a last-second field goal. Punter Mike Lingua averages 38.3 yards per attempt.

Coaching

Pat Hill’s Bulldogs are 0-2 against Boise State with both losses coming in the past two seasons. Fresno State beat the Broncos 41-7 in 1996 for former coach Jim Sweeney’s 200th career victory.

Intangibles

This game is for the WAC title. The Bulldogs have endured two straight losses to Boise State. In 2001, the Broncos upset the then-No. 8 Bulldogs and ended their hopes of earning a Bowl Championship Series berth.

Broncos

Quarterbacks

Ryan Dinwiddie is probably the best quarterback the Bulldogs have faced all season—including Oklahoma’s Jason White. Dinwiddie has 3,054 yards, 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. He completes 60.9 percent of his passes. The senior is 310 yards away from setting a new school record for single-season passing yards.

Edge: Broncos

Running Backs

The Broncos lost standout running back Brock Forsey to the NFL, but senior David Mikell has filled in nicely. Mikell has 957 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He averages 4.8 yards per carry.

Edge: Bulldogs

Receivers

Tim Gilligan has 1,000 yards receiving and five touchdowns on the season. The Bulldogs’ yardage leader is Berrian with 483 yards. The Broncos’ Jerry Smith has 509 yards on just 26 receptions, an average of 19.6 yards per catch. The numbers look good for the Broncos, but Fresno State has a big advantage in depth.

Edge: Even

Offensive Line

There aren’t a whole lot of similarities between this line and Fresno State’s. At least not physically. The Broncos starting five doesn’t include a single 300-pounder. Right guard Michael Ansel comes close at 299 pounds. Three Bulldogs starters are 300 pounds or more. The unit has given up 16 sacks this season, compared to the Bulldogs 15.

Edge: Even

Defensive Line

This unit’s leading tackler is senior Dane Oldham with 30. Junior end Julius Roberts leads the D-line with 3.5 sacks. Oldham, Roberts and company will have to step up to slow what has become a scary Fresno State running attack.

Edge: Bulldogs

Linebackers

Junior Andy Avalos (5-foot-10, 222 pounds) leads the team with 80 tackles. Redshirt freshman Korey Hall is third on the team with 60 tackles and 2.5 sacks. This unit will have to adapt to several different personnel groupings used by the Fresno State offense.

Edge: Even

Defensive Backs

Safety Wes Nurse tops the Broncos with four interceptions and is second with 63 tackles. Corners Gabe Franklin and Julius Brown are a formidable combination. Brown has three interceptions.

Edge: Even

Special Teams

Junior kicker Tyler Jones is 15 of 19 on field goals this season, with a long of 52 yards. Fresno State is among the best at blocking kicks and punts with nine blocks this season, but Jones has had just one kick blocked this season. Freshman punter Kyle Stringer averages 41.4 yards per punt.

Edge: Even

Coaching

Boise State has scored more than 50 points in three straight games. The Broncos dropped 67 points on the Bulldogs in Boise last season under coach Dan Hawkins. Dinwiddie threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter despite holding a 40-14 lead after three quarters.

Edge: Even

Intangibles

The Broncos can clinch their second straight WAC championship with a win tonight. They would also make it three straight against the Bulldogs. To do it, the Broncos would have to become the first visitors to win at Bulldog Stadium all season.

Edge: Even